Adeline Schiralli

Special Counsel | Accredited Specialist | Wills, Estates & Elder Law

Adeline is an Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates Law in NSW and a legal educator with extensive experience developing comprehensive and practical estate plans that suit the individual circumstances of her clients. Adeline is an Adjunct Lecturer at the College of Law, teaching in the Wills & Estates and Estate Planning majors of their Master of Laws (Applied Law) postgraduate degrees. Adeline also regularly presents seminars to lawyers (for their Continuing Professional Development “CPD”), financial advisors and the public in relation to Estate Planning and Elder Law.

Adeline provides advice to clients on matters including the implementation of wills (particularly sophisticated testamentary trust wills), powers of attorney and enduring guardianships, superannuation death benefit nominations and properly gifting the control of entities (including private companies and/or trusts) to the appropriate person(s) in the event of death and/or incapacity. Adeline can also assist clients with the administration of a deceased person’s estate and regularly advises clients about retirement village contracts and aged care agreements.

Adeline is passionate about obtaining peace of mind for her clients in relation to their estate planning and elder law needs. She has a “no-nonsense” style to advising clients in all aspects of wills, estates and elder law, and her attention to detail is exemplary. Adeline takes a holistic approach to estate planning and works closely with her clients’ other advisors (accountants, financial planners, other lawyers etc.) to best achieve her clients’ objectives.

In her spare time, Adeline is a busy mum and spends most of her time with her children at their various sporting & musical commitments. Adeline enjoys a good catch-up over a coffee and spending time with family & friends.

Expertise

  • Drafting both simple and sophisticated tailored Wills (incorporating testamentary trusts, special disability trusts and protective trusts, where required).
  • Providing options and solutions to clients in relation to their particular circumstances, including where there is a blended family, a child with special needs, asset protection issues and taxation and/or pension considerations.
  • Drafting simple and complex incapacity documents (including powers of attorney, appointments of enduring guardian and advanced care directives (or “living wills”).
  • Reviewing and advising on Superannuation Death Benefit Nominations (public funds and self-managed superannuation funds).
  • Reviewing, advising and amending company constitutions and/or trust deeds from an estate planning perspective.
  • Advising on potential claims against a will maker’s estate and providing solutions on ways to attempt to prevent a successful challenge.
  • Advising and assisting clients with the administration of a deceased persons’ estate.
  • Advising and assisting clients with their entry into a retirement village including organising settlement and reviewing the relevant lease or loan/license agreement.
  • Advising and assisting clients (or their family members) with their entry into a residential aged care facility.

Recognition

  • Recognised by the Law Society of NSW as an Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates Law since 2019;
  • Recognised by peer-rated Doyle’s Guide for 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 as one of a small number of “Recommended” lawyers in NSW in the area of Wills, Estates and Succession Law;
  • Recognised by the Doyle’s Guide 2017 as a ‘Rising Star’ in the area of Wills, Estates and Succession Law;
  • Graduate Fellow of the College of Law – awarded a Master of Laws (Applied Law), with Distinction, majoring in Wills and Estates;
  • Committee Member of the Elder Law, Capacity and Succession Committee of the Law Society of NSW; and
  • Chair of the Wills & Estates Accredited Specialist Advisory Committee of the Law Society of NSW.